"He’s draining everything..." Rowan muttered, his breath ragged. "Every last drop of mana."
His knees trembled, his body burning as the energy was torn from him. Still, he stood.
"I wasn’t even using mana to fight you," Rowan said through clenched teeth. "It was all raw strength. But now... now I can feel it changing. Twisting into sothing else."
The air around him trembled.
"It’s only a matter of ti before it fully manifests."
He forced himself upright, blood dripping from his lip as he lifted his gaze.
"Co on," Rowan said hoarsely. "Co at ."
Suddenly, his chest tightened. His heart pounded violently, each beat echoing like thunder in his ears. His vision blurred, his body screaming in protest.
"I can feel it... it’s inside ."
The energy surged violently through Valzaha’s veins, tearing through his body like a raging storm.
"So this is what it feels like..." he whispered, his voice trembling with awe. "This power... it’s overwhelming."
His body convulsed as blue energy poured into him, crawling across his skin, sinking deep into his bones. His breath grew uneven, eyes wide with both terror and exhilaration.
"My regeneration... it’s accelerating," Valzaha muttered. "My body—it’s evolving."
He clenched his fists as the power surged again, stronger than before.
The blue aura surged violently around him, twisting and crawling across his skin like living fla. His breathing grew erratic as his body adapted, muscles tightening, bones creaking under the pressure.
"With this power..." Valzaha said slowly, a twisted smile forming on his face. "I could run. I could escape. No—more than that. I could beco stronger than the Demon Lord Generals."
His laughter echoed, sharp and unstable.
"But you..." He turned his glowing eyes toward Rowan. "You are the real threat."
Valzaha’s expression darkened.
"You’re still in that small body, still incomplete. And yet... even like this, you’re already frightening. If you’re allowed to grow—if you reach your full potential—you won’t just rival the Demon Lord..."
He clenched his fist, blue energy crackling violently around it.
"You’ll surpass him."
His gaze hardened, filled with killing intent.
"That’s why you have to die here. Right now."
"Well... don’t get cocky," Rowan said coldly. "My mana won’t stay inside you forever. You drained all of it—but up until now, I wasn’t even using mana in this fight. I fought you with nothing but my body. My strength. My skill."
He raised his sword, eyes sharp.
"So co at . I’m ready to take your head."
"You bastard..." Valzaha snarled. "You’re still acting like you’re in control?"
He burst forward.
Rowan moved at the sa ti.
The two clashed head-on, blades screaming as they collided. Sparks flew as tal t tal. Despite his exhaustion, Rowan held firm—but he could feel it now.
He’s getting stronger.
They separated for a split second, then rushed each other again.
Valzaha moved first—far faster than before.
Voom!
Rowan barely tracked him.
He couldn’t match the speed, but he could read the movent—the angle of the sword, the flow of montum, the intent behind every strike. His body reacted before his mind could.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
Valzaha struck again.
The impact sent Rowan skidding backward, boots tearing through the ground. He barely blocked the follow-up strike, steel screaming as their swords collided again.
"This is it," Valzaha sneered. "An opening."
He lunged.
Rowan twisted aside, barely avoiding the blade as it passed inches from his face. But Valzaha was already moving again—faster, sharper.
"Have you forgotten?" Valzaha said coldly. "Your mana flows through now... and with it, I’ve already surpassed you."
He struck again.
Rowan tried to counter—but the blow forced him back. His feet scraped violently across the ground before he was launched away, tumbling through the air.
He crashed hard, skidding across the ground before slamming to a stop.
Dust rose.
Rowan groaned, planting one hand into the dirt as he pushed himself up. His body ached. His breathing was heavy.
Damn it...
He clenched his fist.
This is bad.
His vision sharpened as he stared at Valzaha.
If it were soone like demon using my mana ... he could contain it.
But Valzaha can’t.
But this power was tearing Valzaha apart from the inside.
It’s only a matter of ti, Rowan thought. His body will collapse under it.
Rowan exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
"I just have to hold on," he muttered. "Until then."
Rowan raised his sword, his eyes narrowing.
" Pure reading," he said calmly. "I’ll read everything."
He burst forward toward Valzaha, blade flashing.
"I’ll read your breathing... your movent... the heat of your body—everything. I can keep up."
Valzaha’s eyes widened for a split second.
He’s keeping pace with ...
The realization struck hard. If he wanted to end this from the beginning—if he’d fought seriously—this battle would’ve been over long ago.
But Valzaha didn’t hesitate.
With a snarl, he swung his sword back, eting Rowan’s blade head-on. tal scread as their weapons clashed again and again. Rowan was forced backward, but he didn’t falter—his movents were sharp, controlled, deliberate.
Then he stopped.
Both of them did.
Their swords pressed together, grinding as sparks flew. Valzaha leaned down, pressing his blade harder. Rowan pushed upward, their weapons locked in a deadlock of raw force.
The ground beneath them cracked.
With a burst of power, both leapt back at the sa ti, sliding across the battlefield.
Rowan surged forward again.
Valzaha’s eyes narrowed. He’s coming.
They ran straight at each other, feet tearing through the ground. At the sa instant, both twisted their bodies, pivoting into attacks. Steel clashed again and again as they exchanged blows in rapid succession.
Valzaha suddenly hurled a wave of dark energy.
Rowan leapt aside, narrowly avoiding it, and closed the distance instantly, his blade flashing.
Valzaha shot upward into the air—and Rowan followed, launching himself after him.
They faced each other in midair.
Rowan stared ahead, his eyes narrowing.
What the hell...?
He could feel it clearly now.
Valzaha was completely wrapped in his mana.
Not just touched by it—consud by it.
Blue energy covered Valzaha from head to toe, swallowing every trace of his original aura. There wasn’t even a hint of it left behind. Rowan could feel it clearly—his own power had completely overwritten the demon’s.
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